I realized the coach had come to a stop and glanced out the window at the entrance to the Close, and the stone steps that led inside that passage. Past two pubs, a leathermaker’s shop, an assortment of entrances in the narrow space like the one from the day before—shadows inside tenements where people slept on cots and the floors.
Tenants included workers who earned coins for a meal or that cot, those who begged on the street, others who lifted a woman’s reticule or coins from a man’s pocket.
It was a world I understood far too well. And now, returning to Dory’s room, I was taken back to that.
“The constables were here early,” the old woman snapped as she met Sergeant MacKenzie at the entrance.
“Collected the body, they did. I been hard put cleaning the place. Now I need to find another tenant, one that will pay on time.” She glanced to where I stood beyond his stout height.
“I know ye. Ye were here yesterday. Took ye away, they did, aye? Wot might ye be wantin’ now?”
“We’ll be seein’ the room,” Sergeant MacKenzie informed her. “Either provide the key or show the way.”
“Didna arrest ye, did they?” she said with snort. “With yer fancy clothes and proper way of speakin’. It will cost ye to see the room, as it will put off anyone hopin’ for the place.”
That did seem most unlikely.
“We’ll have none of that now,” he told her. “Or I’ll have the driver call for a van and have ye taken in.”
“And wot might be the charge?” she demanded from the top of the stairs with a confused look at her face.
“Extortion,” he announced. She had no idea of the meaning.
“Ex...? Wot is that?”
“Attemptin’ to get payment for somethin’ by crookery or threat.”
“I’m entitled to compensation for me trouble!” she retorted.
“Is yer establishment licensed with the city?” he demanded.
“Licensed?” she replied as we arrived at Dory’s room.
“I’ll be pleased to check that for ye before we leave, ma’am.”
Her response was a glare at him.
“And open the room, if ye please. It seems to be locked.”
She opened the room without further comment, although her expression indicated exactly what she thought of Sergeant MacKenzie.
We entered the room.
It was as I remembered it, except that Dory’s body was no longer there. I stepped farther into the room.
A partially eaten meal remained, as well as the few clothes Dory had, still on the hooks along the wall. So much for the woman’s claim that she had cleaned the place.
I slowly walked around the small room, something about it different from the day before. It was a cold, uncomfortable feeling that ran along my skin.
“Someone else has been here.”
“If there’s anythin’ missing it could be them constables wot was here this mornin’,” the landlady snapped. “They mighta taken something.”
It was something else...a feeling that grew stronger as I moved about the room.
“Dinna ye be speakin’ against the police,” Sergeant MacKenzie warned her. “Next ye’ll be wantin’ them to save ye from the Night Hawks when they come fer the protection money ye pay them.”
“I do no such thing,” she snapped and there’s been no one else here! I would know! I’ll leave ye to yer business. But let me know when ye leave. As I said, I keep a respectable place and I dinna want rumours startin’.”
